The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with all members and the County Clerk present.

 

            The monthly department head meeting was held with the following in attendance: Tom Kramer, Road Foreman; Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator; Lance Babcock, Sheriff; Don Button, Emergency Management; John Crosby, Fire Chief; Sean Gooding, Emergency Medical Services Director; Pete Clinesmith, Noxious Weed Director; Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds; Sherry Thomson, Health Department Administrator; Rita Gee, Treasurer; Nancy Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager; and Ronald Lofland, Transfer Station Manager.

 

            Madison Traster made the motion to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2003 commissioner meeting and to approve the claims against the various funds of the county. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Martin Daharsh and Ron O’Dell from the Ulysses Feed Yard requested approval to run a 3-inch high-pressure pipeline along a county ditch. The commissioners approved them using the county’s easement as long as they get a county permit with signed affidavits giving all landowners permission.

 

            Ann Papay, Tom Fuhrmann, and Ken Lawhon, Appraisers, met with the commissioners. Madison Traster made the motion to approve two contracts with Landmark Appraisal, one “Providing of an Appraiser for Grant County” and the other for “Appraisal of Gas & Oil Properties for Grant County”. Included in the motion was approval for a consulting contract with Ann Papay. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Gene Schwein made the motion to appoint Tom Fuhrmann as the county’s appraiser to fill the unexpired term of Charles B. Welch. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Pete Clinesmith, Noxious Weed Director, presented a delinquent bill for $821.00. The commissioners approved writing the bill off as a bad debt. Bids were opened for an ATV. Gene Schwein made the motion to accept the low bid from Clark Motorsports West of Garden City not to exceed $4921.57. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Sherry Thompson, Health Department Administrator, reported that they are working on getting replacement pagers for the task force since Pioneer Communications will no longer be able to provide this service. She informed the board that the mobile mammogram charge is increasing to $120 per person making it no longer feasible to resume the service. Ms. Thompson also gave a brief update on her department.

 

            Nancy Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, presented bids for a riding lawnmower, and bids for a walk behind mower. Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the best bid from Grant County Implement for an LT150 John Deere not to exceed $2045.37. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Madison Traster made the motion to approve the bid from Shoemaker Farm and Home Service not to exceed $765.00 for a Snapper walk behind mower. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Ms. Ramski discussed problems that occurred when a band needed three-phase electricity and the civic center only has single phase. She presented a revised facility contract to clarify electrical needs in the future.

 

            Tom Kramer, Road Foreman, and Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator, talked to the commissioners about the county helping the city with Santa Fe Avenue and in return, the city will help the county by crack sealing a county road. The commissioners approved proceeding with this. Mr. Kramer reported that there is an old stone bridge on Road 21 and there is an old concrete bridge on the same road that need to be replaced with culverts. The estimated cost for replacing both bridges is $13,000 for culverts and extensions. The commissioners approved replacing the bridges as long as there is money in the road budget. The commissioners reviewed and approved a road-crossing permit for Anadarko.

 

            Sean Gooding, EMS Director, presented information on an EMT class. Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the EMT class not to exceed $8,000 for the instructor cost. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Gooding requested approval to purchase an automated external defibrillator. Mr. Gooding explained that there was a grant available last year that would have supplied the county with two or three of the AED’s at no cost. He doesn’t know why Grant County EMS didn’t apply for the grant when it was offered. Madison Traster made the motion to approve the purchase of an AED Plus from Zoll not to exceed $1,795.00. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the Register of Deeds, Mary K. Sullivan’s request to purchase two new computers and monitors from NEX-TECH at a cost of $3,576.00. The computers will be purchased from her technology fund. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on May 20, 2003.

 

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                      Carl Higgs, Chairman